Jon Terry and Liuan Huska on Liturgies of Restoration
Au Sable Institute developed its Liturgies of Restoration workbook to help university students in summer field science courses connect Christian worship and creation care. Now small groups and churches are using the workbook to cultivate habits of worship, community, earthkeeping, purposeful stewardship, and hope.
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap on Earthkeeping, the Church, and Generational Differences
Many young Christians despair of finding communities that view environmental sustainability and justice as biblical mandates. Here is advice for helping churches catch a vision for biblical earthkeeping.
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap on the Arts as a Climate Tipping Point
Music and the arts have fueled major movements for justice. Evangelical Christians have the potential to shift climate action. That's why Christian leaders and musicians are creating worship songs and candlelight climate vigils to address climate crisis and work toward environmental sustainability.
Church Responses to Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy Loss
After decades of silence, church leaders and congregations have begun accompanying people who mourn losing children before or soon after birth or letting go of dreams to form a family.
Stacey Edwards-Dunn on African American Infertility and the Church’s Response
People experiencing infertility often suffer in silence. African Americans experience more infertility than other racial groups. But churches can offer healing when they open the door for conversations and include these sorrows in worship.
Matthew Watson and Justin Fung on Neighborhood Spiritual Histories
Both church planters and established congregations can explore spiritual histories of their church neighborhoods. This helps them better communicate the gospel in the places where God calls them to serve.
Trauma-Informed Care in Church Worship and Life
This topic showcase highlights resources to help churches use trauma-informed practices in church worship and congregational life. Faith communities are more effective when they become more aware of adverse childhood experiences, collective trauma, and other tragedy.
Becoming a Trauma-Informed Faith Community
Resources to help churches and other faith communities do ministry with people affected by adverse childhood experiences or other trauma.
LaTonya McIver Penny on Worship with Differently Abled People
Churches decide to include people with disabilities when they realize God sees us all as equals and all as differently abled. LaTonya McIver Penny advocates for inclusive worship, especially in African American congregations.
Janice McLean-Farrell on a Pastoral Approach to Research
Congregations often want to get information from members and neighbors. They can learn how to do so pastorally by considering how scholars do academic research using human subjects. Scholars follow ethical standards to gain data while doing no harm.
Leopoldo A. Sánchez M. on Sculptor Spirit
It is impossible to become more like Jesus on your own. A new book offers five ways to recognize how the same Spirit who worked in Jesus’ life can shape us to be more Christlike.
When Local Churches Learn and Worship Together
Four congregations in Durham, North Carolina, discovered that planning worship, learning, and reflecting together helped them be better witnesses in their East Durham neighborhood.